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Boys basketball roundup: Allen, Tigers sneak by Whippany Park, 72-70

Posted: Mar. 5, 2014 9:55 am Updated: Mar. 9, 2014 11:46 am

HACKETTSTOWN — The Tigers scored four points in the closing seconds, including the game-winning layup from Logan Allen off his steal, as they squeaked past 13th-seeded Whippany Park, 72-70, in Tuesday’s opening round of North 2, Group 2 play at Hackettstown High School.

Those late heroics gave the fourth-seeded Tigers a berth in the quarterfinals, where they will host fifth-seeded Snyder on Thursday, beginning at 7 p.m.

Hackettstown trailed 70-68 in the waning seconds of Tuesday’s fourth quarter, when James Britt stole the ball, drove, and pulled up for the game-tying jumper with 1.5 seconds left. Allen then stole the in-bounds pass and laid the ball in to give his team a first-round victory.

Britt finished with 27 points, eight assists and three steals. Jeremy DelValle added 22 points and six rebounds for the Tigers (18-7). Joe Ivin contributed 11 points for Hackettstown and Allen wound up with eight points.

Ryan Gaynor paced Whippany Park with 20 points.

Both teams were in a scoring frenzy during the fourth quarter, netting 25 points each in that period.

JEFFERSON — The second-seeded Jefferson boys basketball team avoided an upset on Tuesday night, as it fended off 15th-seeded Lakeland in overtime in the first round of the North 1, Group 3 tournament at Jefferson High School.

The Falcons (24-1) had led, 26-20, over Lakeland at halftime, but the Lancers outscored them, 28-22, in the second half to tie the game at 48 and force OT. However, the Falcons managed to put the Lancers away by outscoring them, 12-8, in the extra quarter to advance to the quarterfinal round, where they will host 10th-seeded Pascack Valley tonight at 7.

L 10 10 13 15 8 — 48

J 11 15 11 11 12 — 60

Team records: Lakeland 13-12, Jefferson 24-1

High Point 55, Hopatcong 43

WANTAGE — Adam Walton scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and the fourth-seeded Wildcats outscored the 13th-seeded Chiefs, 21-12, in the third quarter to snap an 18-all tie and go on to win by 14 in their North 1, Group 2 opening-round double-local game on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats (15-9) will host 12th-seeded Dumont in Thursday’s quarterfinals after Dumont upset fifth-seeded Elmwood Park, 65-64, on Tuesday. Thursday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Walton keyed the Wildcats’ win by scoring 16 of his 26 points in the second half, including seven in the third quarter. Kyle Adams added 11 points for the ’Cats during the win.

Hopatcong ended its season with an 8-15 record. The Chiefs were led by Pat McNamara, who scored 13 points.

BLAIRSTOWN — Glen Nanius posted another big double-double, dropping 28 points and pulling down 17 rebounds while directing the eighth-seeded Patriots to a five-point win over ninth-seeded Dover on Tuesday in the first round of the North 1, Group 2 tournament.

Offensively, Nanius poured in 20 of his 28 points in the second half, with 14 coming in the fourth quarter. He went 8-of-13 from the field and was 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.

His effort, along with Matt Olah’s 10 points, helped North Warren advance to the quarters where they will play top-seeded Westwood on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

SPARTA — The sixth-seeded Spartans put together a strong second-half effort against 11th-seeded Indian Hills on Tuesday night, outscoring the Braves, 30-13, to break a 24-all tie and advance to the North 1, Group 3 quarterfinals.

Sparta, which won its 20th game in 25 tries, will have to travel tonight to face third-seeded Bergenfield in the quarters. Game is set for 7 p.m.

IH 7 17 8 5 — 37

S 16 8 16 14 — 54

Team records: Indian Hills 13-11, Sparta 20-5

Pascack Hills 73, Kittatinny 23

MONTVALE — The 15th-seeded Cougars had a tough go against second-seeded Pascack Hills on Tuesday night in their North 1, Group 2 opener, as they lost by 50 to the Cowboys on the road.

Kittatinny concluded its season with a 7-17 record, bouncing back nicely from a winless 2012-13 campaign.